(Updated January 7, 2020) | Papa John’s UK has four new vegan pizzas on the menu, including one topped with vegan sausage and pepperoni.
The new pizzas, which launched today, include Jackfruit Pepperoni, American Hot Jackfruit, Sausage and Pepperoni, and the Vegan Works. The latter is topped with vegan sausage, jackfruit pepperoni, portobello mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and black olives.
According to Clare Every, Chief Vegan Officer at Papa John’s UK, the “new additions to the menu to be a huge hit with pizza lovers across the nation.”
They added, “With recipe innovation at the core of the brand, and more people than ever adopting a vegan lifestyle, the latest launches are only just the beginning, with lots more exciting and innovative dishes launching later in the year.”
A Little Bit of R&D
Developing new vegan products has been a goal of Papa John’s. At the start of 2019, the chain first launched pizzas topped with Sheese, a dairy-free cheese made from coconut oil. The cheese sold out almost immediately.
It soon expanded the menu with a number of sides including cauliflower wings, cheesy tater tots, marmite scrolls, and Ben & Jerry’s dairy-free ice cream for dessert.
Last October, the chain put out a job ad for a “Chief Vegan Officer” in the UK. The position called for someone to work with the head of R&D to “be the pizza chain’s eyes and ears of upcoming vegan trends.”
Papa John’s Marketing Director Giles Codd called 2019 a “huge year” for plant-based food. He added that the demand for more options is on the rise.
Papa John’s UK isn’t alone in introducing new menu options: Pizza Hut recently launched vegan pepperoni made from pea protein as a limited-edition topping for the month of Jaunary. The chain pulled a similar move last year with a jackfruit-topped pizza. The jackfruit pizza was so popular that the chain made it permanent.
Pizza Hut UK also has an extensive menu. Vegan appetizers, sides (Quorn chicken nuggets are a recent addition), and desserts, including dairy-free biscuit and caramel cheesecake, launched last year.
